Endhardt Vineyards, Bluemont Vineyard, Zephaniah Farm Vineyard, and Williams Gap Vineyard were among the big winners of the Loudoun Wine Awards for 2024.
As Loudoun County celebrates 40 years of wine, six judges tasted nearly 150 entries in September to determine the award winners. Endhardt, located in Purcellville, won the Chairman’s Grand Award, the top prize, for its Upper Block Sauvignon Blanc 2023. The judges described it as having a long, mouthwatering finish with a crisp minerality.
“The quality of Loudoun wine continues to be acknowledged and celebrated,” said Beth Erickson, president and CEO of Visit Loudoun. “As we mark 40 years of wine in DC’s Wine Country, I am incredibly proud of our creative and collaborative industry that has helped to shape and define Loudoun into a top-tier wine destination.”
Bluemont Vineyard’s Scott Spelbring was recognized as the Winemaker of the Year for his commitment to the Loudoun wine community as well as “his innovative practices and his collaborative spirit.” Spelbring has assisted Virginia Tech and Penn State in their work to find a response to the spotted lanternfly, which threatens Northern Virginia vineyards.
At Zephaniah Farm Vineyard in Leesburg, Tremain Hatch won the title of the Winegrower of the Year. Hatch, who was also named winegrower of the year for the state by the Virginia Vineyards Association, is the viticulturalist at this multigenerational vineyard, where his father, Bill Hatch, is the owner and his sister is one of the winemakers. Tremain Hatch is also a research associate for Virginia Tech.
The Wine Ambassador of the Year award went to Brigette Smith at Williams Gap Vineyard in Round Hill because she “believes in collaboration and bringing unity to the Loudoun Wine community.” Smith is the vineyard’s tasting room manager and is also a board member of the Loudoun Wineries and Winegrowers Association.
The Loudoun Wine Awards named these wines Best of Class:
- Best Sparkling: Iron Will Winery Sparkling Viognier 2023
- Best Sweet: Walsh Family Wine Late Harvest Petit Manseng 2019
- Best Hybrid White: Quartzwood Farm Chardonel 2023
- Best White Vinifera: Endhardt Vineyard ‘Reverie White’ 2023
- Best Albariño: Good Spirit Farm & Vineyard Albariño 2023
- Best Chardonnay: Williams Gap Vineyard Chardonnay 2022
- Best Sauvignon Blanc: Endhardt Vineyard Sauvignon Blanc ‘Upper Block’ 2023
- Best Viognier: Kalero Vineyard Viognier 2020
- Best Petit Manseng: Hillsborough Vineyard ‘Opal’ 2022
- Best Rosé: Three Creeks Winery Rosé 2021
- Best Cabernet Franc: Bluemont Vineyard Cabernet Franc 2021
- Best Merlot: Williams Gap Vineyard ‘Black Label’ Merlot 2021
- Best Tannat: Walsh Family Wine Tannat 2021
- Best Petit Verdot: Three Creeks Winery Petit Verdot 2022
- Best Cabernet Sauvignon: Greenhill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
- Best Bordeaux Blend: Endhardt Vineyard ‘Fevor Red’ 2021
Feature image courtesy Endhardt Vineyards
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